Physical Injuries

Difference between Suicidal wounds and

Homicidal wounds
Suicidal Homicidal
Direction Oblique from below left ear Usually horizontal below
downwards across front of the Adams apple
the neck just above Adams
apple

Severity Usually not so deep and Usually deep and may cause
may only involve the involvement of cartilage
trachea, carotid and and bone
esophagus

Superficial cut Usually present before Practically absent but may

commencement of deeper rarely be present when the
wound victim struggled
Difference between Suicidal wounds and
Homicidal wounds
Suicidal Homicidal
Position of the body May be sitting or facing a Usually victim lying in bed
mirror or standing or in other places

Wounding weapon Firmly grasp (cadaveric Weapon is absent

spasm) or found lying
beside the victim

Blood distribution Hand smeared with blood Hands are clean

Difference between Suicidal wounds and
Homicidal wounds
Suicidal Homicidal
Motive History of mental Absence of such history
depression
Previous history of self- May be present Absent
destruction
Differences between Incised wound and
lacerated wounds

Incised wound Lacerated wound

Edges are clean cut, regular and
well defined
No contusion or swelling around
the incised wound
Extremities of the wound are sharp
Edges are rough, irregular and ill-
defined
Swelling and contusion around the
lacerated wound
Extremities are ill-defined

Hair bulbs are cut Hair bulbs are preserved

Healing is faster Healing is delayed
Caused by sharp edged instrument Caused by blunt instrument
Gaping of wound - causes
• Mechanical stretching or dilatation ex. Drain in an
abscess or medical devices
• Loss of tissue due to
• Destruction due to pressure, burning, etc.
• Avulsion or physical stretching
• Trimming of edges – debridement
• Retraction of edges
Fatal effects of wound
• Direct effects
• Hemorrhage
• Mechanical injuries of vital organs
• Shock
• Indirect effects
• Bleeding due to DIC
• Infection
• Scarring effect
• Secondary shock
Blood loss
• Loss of blood
• Loss of 1/10 of total blood volume will cause no significant
change
• Loss of ¼ of total blood volume will cause fainting
• Loss of 1/3 to 2/5 will cause shock
• Males can withstand more loss of blood than females
• Hypertension causes more excessive and rapid bleeding
Difference between ante-mortem and post-
mortem wounds
Ante-mortem Post-mortem
Hemorrhage More profuse. Slight or none.
Spouting of blood from No spouting of blood
arteries
Signs of inflammation Swelling in the area None

Signs of repair Fibrin formation or scab None

formation
Retraction of edges of Edges gape owing to the Edges do not gape
wound reaction of skin and
muscle fibers
GUN SHOT WOUNDS
FIREARM WOUND
• Caused by an instrument used for the propulsion of a
projectile by the expansive forces of gasses coming from the
burning of gunpoweder.
• Includes: rifle, muskets, shotguns, revolvers, pistors, paltik
• Includes air rifle
Classification of firearms

• As to wounding power:
• Low velocity firearm – muzzle velocity of not more than
1400 ft./sec. ex. Revolver.
• High power firearm – muzzle velocity more than 1400
ft./sec.
Classification of firearms

• As to nature of the bore:

• Smooth bore weapon – inside of weapon is perfectly
smooth. Ex. Shotgun
• Rifled bore weapon – bore of the barrel with parallel
grooves. Ex. Military rifle.
Classification of firearms

• As to manner of firing:
• Single – fired with a single shot. Ex. Revolver.
• Semi-automatic or automatic. Ex. Armalite.
Classification of firearms

• As to nature of magazine
• Cylindrical e.g. revolver
• Vertical or horizontal e.g automatic pistol.
Firearms
• In order to cause injury, it must have two principal
components
• The cartridge or ammunition – bullet primer, cartridge case,
powder charge.
• Firearm – instrument for the propulsion of a projectile foce of
gases from a burning powder.
After the exam: continuation of Gun shot wounds.

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